Storied Panther football program hits 400-win plateau
GREG KEIM THE GOSHEN NEWS
There is an old proverb that says a journey begins with a single step.
The NorthWood Panthers notched the 400th high school football win in program history last Friday night in a 54-3 whipping of the DeKalb Barons.
The journey to No. 400 started with the initial win, an 18-15 victory over the Plymouth Rockies in the second game of the 1969 season.
It was just the second game in the history of the program and would be the springboard to the Panthers becoming one of the most decorated programs on the local high school football scene.
NorthWood lost its first-ever game to East Noble by a 12-6 score before the Plymouth victory. The team had a balanced offense in the Plymouth contest, rushing for 103 yards and passing for 107 for coach Dan Ransberger.
Rick Abel scored both Panther touchdowns on passes from quarterback Jim Hostetler. Joel Johnson added a 2-point conversion while Rick Hollar booted a PAT and a field goal.
NorthWood finished the season 2-7. The other win was a 47-6 decision over Concord as Randy Abel scored three TDs, Rick Abel, Hostetler, Dennis Wiggins and Mel Wise each one. Hollar kicked five PATs.
That first season is one of a mere four losing seasons the Panthers have had in 48 campaigns. Others were in 1972 (4-6), 2012 (5-6) and 2013 (4-6).
Along the way to 400 wins the Panthers have wracked up 18 sectional titles, 11 regional crowns, six semistate titles and a state championship.
The program has lost a total of 167 games for a noteworthy winning percentage of .705.
One of the more remarkable stretches in program history was from 1993 to 2000 with eight consecutive seasons of double-digit wins for a combined mark of 88-16. The team finished 13-1 in 1993, followed by marks of 10-1, 10-1, 12-1, 10-3, 11-4, 11-2 and 11-3.
Ransberger coached the Panthers until 1971, posting a record of 16-12. He was replaced by Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame and Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee Jim Andrews, who fashioned a 150-65 record from 1972 to 1991. He was followed by another Elkhart County and Indiana Hall of Fame inductee, Rich Dodson, who guided his teams to a 169-50 mark from 1992 to 2008. Scott Hoover recorded a 30-27 record from 2009 to 2013 and current coach Nate Andrews (son of Jim Andrews) is 35-13 in his fourth season at the Panther helm.
NorthWood won its 100th game against Goshen in the fifth game of the 1984 season by a 15-7 score. Jamie Lengacher scored a TD and a 2-point conversion, Lee Fink a TD and Brad Price booted a PAT.
Win No. 200 was in the second game of the 1994 season in a 14-10 triumph over Concord. Nate Andrews and Andy Roeder scored TDs and Wes Dodson booted two PATs for the Panthers.
Win No. 300 was a 22-21 decision over South Bend St. Joseph in a 2003 sectional championship on a game-winning field goal by Ryan Burkhart. Phil BeMiller, Darren Lengacher and Michael Ramirez scored TDs and Burkhart booted a PAT.
Burkhart went on to kick at the University of Notre Dame.
As far as numbers are concerned it was not a milestone win, but the 2005 state championship certainly ranks near the top on a list of noteworthy wins posted by the Panthers.
NorthWood edged Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 7-0, as wideout Brant Ehret caught a 10-yard scoring pass from quarterback Skyler Titus with :35 left before halftime.
The Panthers rushed for 115 on 37 carries in the defensive struggle. Kent Biller gained 48 on seven, Darren Lengacher 33 on 13, Titus 22 on 11 and Kent Schaffer 10 on six. Titus completed 7 of 10 passes for 98 yards. Ehret had four catches for 44 yards, Schaffer two for 16 and Kodi Diemer one for 38.
NorthWood’s "Black Crunch" defense limited Chatard to 156 yards of offense. Leading tacklers were Jed Beer and Schaffer both five solos and two assists, Ehret five and one, Samuel Telschow four and one and Michael Rowe three and three.
The NorthWood juggernaut rolls on as the Panthers will be prepare this week for a Class 4A, Sectional 19 semifinal contest with the undefeated Angola Hornets.
http://www.goshennews.com/sports/local_sports/column-storied-panther-football-program-hits--win-plateau/article_b518d50d-95ce-5e31-9840-718365ac2d50.html
GREG KEIM THE GOSHEN NEWS
There is an old proverb that says a journey begins with a single step.
The NorthWood Panthers notched the 400th high school football win in program history last Friday night in a 54-3 whipping of the DeKalb Barons.
The journey to No. 400 started with the initial win, an 18-15 victory over the Plymouth Rockies in the second game of the 1969 season.
It was just the second game in the history of the program and would be the springboard to the Panthers becoming one of the most decorated programs on the local high school football scene.
NorthWood lost its first-ever game to East Noble by a 12-6 score before the Plymouth victory. The team had a balanced offense in the Plymouth contest, rushing for 103 yards and passing for 107 for coach Dan Ransberger.
Rick Abel scored both Panther touchdowns on passes from quarterback Jim Hostetler. Joel Johnson added a 2-point conversion while Rick Hollar booted a PAT and a field goal.
NorthWood finished the season 2-7. The other win was a 47-6 decision over Concord as Randy Abel scored three TDs, Rick Abel, Hostetler, Dennis Wiggins and Mel Wise each one. Hollar kicked five PATs.
That first season is one of a mere four losing seasons the Panthers have had in 48 campaigns. Others were in 1972 (4-6), 2012 (5-6) and 2013 (4-6).
Along the way to 400 wins the Panthers have wracked up 18 sectional titles, 11 regional crowns, six semistate titles and a state championship.
The program has lost a total of 167 games for a noteworthy winning percentage of .705.
One of the more remarkable stretches in program history was from 1993 to 2000 with eight consecutive seasons of double-digit wins for a combined mark of 88-16. The team finished 13-1 in 1993, followed by marks of 10-1, 10-1, 12-1, 10-3, 11-4, 11-2 and 11-3.
Ransberger coached the Panthers until 1971, posting a record of 16-12. He was replaced by Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame and Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee Jim Andrews, who fashioned a 150-65 record from 1972 to 1991. He was followed by another Elkhart County and Indiana Hall of Fame inductee, Rich Dodson, who guided his teams to a 169-50 mark from 1992 to 2008. Scott Hoover recorded a 30-27 record from 2009 to 2013 and current coach Nate Andrews (son of Jim Andrews) is 35-13 in his fourth season at the Panther helm.
NorthWood won its 100th game against Goshen in the fifth game of the 1984 season by a 15-7 score. Jamie Lengacher scored a TD and a 2-point conversion, Lee Fink a TD and Brad Price booted a PAT.
Win No. 200 was in the second game of the 1994 season in a 14-10 triumph over Concord. Nate Andrews and Andy Roeder scored TDs and Wes Dodson booted two PATs for the Panthers.
Win No. 300 was a 22-21 decision over South Bend St. Joseph in a 2003 sectional championship on a game-winning field goal by Ryan Burkhart. Phil BeMiller, Darren Lengacher and Michael Ramirez scored TDs and Burkhart booted a PAT.
Burkhart went on to kick at the University of Notre Dame.
As far as numbers are concerned it was not a milestone win, but the 2005 state championship certainly ranks near the top on a list of noteworthy wins posted by the Panthers.
NorthWood edged Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 7-0, as wideout Brant Ehret caught a 10-yard scoring pass from quarterback Skyler Titus with :35 left before halftime.
The Panthers rushed for 115 on 37 carries in the defensive struggle. Kent Biller gained 48 on seven, Darren Lengacher 33 on 13, Titus 22 on 11 and Kent Schaffer 10 on six. Titus completed 7 of 10 passes for 98 yards. Ehret had four catches for 44 yards, Schaffer two for 16 and Kodi Diemer one for 38.
NorthWood’s "Black Crunch" defense limited Chatard to 156 yards of offense. Leading tacklers were Jed Beer and Schaffer both five solos and two assists, Ehret five and one, Samuel Telschow four and one and Michael Rowe three and three.
The NorthWood juggernaut rolls on as the Panthers will be prepare this week for a Class 4A, Sectional 19 semifinal contest with the undefeated Angola Hornets.
http://www.goshennews.com/sports/local_sports/column-storied-panther-football-program-hits--win-plateau/article_b518d50d-95ce-5e31-9840-718365ac2d50.html